LANCASHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND

Annual Report 2018

2018 is the 20th anniversary of the Lancashire Environmental Fund. The Fund was established in 1998 as a not-for-profit organisation to support community and environmental projects within Lancashire with grants generated by the Landfill Communities Fund. Funds are provided by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd.

The Fund is an equal partnership between SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Community Futures. Representatives from each organisation serve on the Fund’s Board and Application Assessment Group to ensure that the best projects throughout the county, which provide environmental, community and social benefits, are supported.

Landfill Communities Fund (LCF)Tax on landfilling waste was introduced to allow for a small percentage of the tax to be donated to not-for-profit organisations who achieve environmental and/or social objectives. The LCF is managed by HM Revenue and Customs and is regulated by ENTRUST. To find out more about the Landfill Communities Fund visit www.entrust.org.uk

Community and environmental groups can apply to Lancashire Environmental Fund for awards up to £30,000 from three funding streams – Green Grants (up to £1000) Small Grants (up to £15,000) Main Grants (up to £30,000)

Projects to date have included improvements to community facilities, general environmental improvements, creation and management of habitats, improvements to parks, gardens, open spaces, play areas, recreational facilities, ponds, canals, rivers and natural biodiversity.

Lancashire Environmental Fund BoardCC Albert Atkinson – Deputy Leader, Lancashire County CouncilJohn Wilkinson – General Manager Energy and Landfill, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd John Drury – Lancashire Wildlife Trust Frank McGinty – Community Futures

Lancashire Environmental FundThe Barn, Berkeley DriveBamber BridgePrestonPR5 6BYTelephone: 01772 317247

general@lancsenvfund.org.ukwww.lancsenvfund.org.ukPhotography: Anne Kingston, Andy Rowett, Jason Smalley, Jason Lock and project contributors.

And they said it wouldn’t last!

3rd June 1998 saw the launch of the Fund with some fanfare at Clifton Marsh Landfill Site with celebrity environmentalist David Bellamy. I’m not sure that anyone anticipated that the Fund would still be handing out grants 20 years later. The Fund passed the £20M grants mark a couple of years ago and we are rapidly approaching £26M.

We have had to change and adapt over the years. An early focus was supporting sustainable waste projects, these ranged from a countywide pilot home composting scheme to very small scale community recycling and reuse projects and schools education programmes. A third of our income went on such schemes. Some schemes ran their course or morphed into mainstream management of the county’s waste, others carried on, one the most successful being Furniture Matters at Lancaster. The project provides recycled and reused unwanted furniture to disadvantaged local people.

The Fund has always supported the community and environment and our grants have touched all four corners of the county. There are so many highlights I could fill a page and only scratch the surface. Upgrading vital community buildings that are the glue that hold communities together, refurbishing much loved greenspace and children’s play area and boosting the prospects for conservation of wildlife and special natural places.

If you were to ask what has been the standout project from the 1,020 granted support I’d be hard pressed to give you an answer simply because every project has its unique qualities. However, I can tell you the best thing about granting funds to projects, it has been helping dedicated and passionate people achieve their aspirations for their communities and the environment.

CC Albert AtkinsonChair of the Fund BoardLancashire County Council

Andy RowettFund ManagerLancashire Environmental Fund

In 1996 the Government introduced landfill tax aimed at reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and to encourage recycling and reuse. A percentage of this tax, paid by the landfill operator on each tonne of waste sent to landfill, can be reclaimed by the operator as a tax credit in order to support local environment and community projects. In 1998 the Lancashire Environmental Fund was formed to take advantage of the tax, called the Landfill Communities Fund (previously the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme).

This year’s Annual Report reflects upon another positive year as we continue our work to improve the environment and community life in Lancashire through the Landfill Communities Fund. 2018 is the 20th anniversary of the Fund and as we reach this milestone it has been interesting to look back at our substantial achievements over the years.

LEF grants have made very real differences to habitats, wildlife, community facilities, play areas, waste management initiatives, footpaths and bridlepaths, parks, gardens and open spaces across the county. The hundreds of projects we have supported with grants have increased people’s awareness and enjoyment of wildlife, encouraging them to take a greater interest in their environment and community. Community spaces have been built, renovated and saved keeping communities together in even the most rural areas.

Rivington Terrace Gardens, South Lodge - £30,000Groundwork/Rivington Heritage Trustwww.rivingtonheritagetrust.co.uk

The terraced gardens at Rivington were created by Lord Leverhulme as a country retreat. The gardens were taken over by the Liverpool Corporation in the 1920s and is currently owned by United Utilities.

The gardens are now being restored and this project focusses on the South entrance lodge which is the old entrance to the park. Work will include improving access pathways, conservation to the lodge structure and installation of interpretation boards. The Heritage Trust are keen to develop community events in this unique greenspace.

Eco Power – Mossgate Community and Sport Facility - £15,000Heysham Mossgate (Community Facilities)www.heyshammossgatecommunity@live.co.uk

The Community and Sports facility is operated as a not for profit enterprise with all revenue being redirected back into this popular community resource. The building is used by 48,000 people annually with over 40 sports and community based clubs using the centre as their base. Facilities include an indoor gym, a large activity room, a smaller multi-purpose room and a large outdoor sports area with flood lighting.

The eco power project includes the installation of solar panels to the building’s roof in order to reduce energy costs and create income through energy generation for future maintenance.

Martholme Greenway is the disused railway track bed that was part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway with line to Padiham Power Station last used in 1965. Following removal of the railway tracks the route has been used by walkers, cyclist and horse riders as an unofficial path.

The viaduct was closed in 2001 after the foot and mouth outbreak and never reopened. The Martholme Greenway group aim to link the viaduct back to the Hyndburn Greenway and wider cycle network by creating a continuous all access route.

Access for All, Gt Harwood - £26,500Martholme Greenwaywww.martholme-greenway.co.uk

The Fund has supported several projects to improve access and insulation of this popular and well used community centre and this project sees the development of disabled access to the rear of the building directly from the car park.

Marjorie Higgins, project manager commented, “This has made a huge difference in allowing everyone, especially the elderly and less able, easy access to the building. We also feel much safer and happier now that the hall has its own fire exit away from the kitchen area. The new access area is superb improving the environment and making the hall much more user friendly”.

All Access, Barnoldswick - £8,500St Joseph’s Community Centrewww.stjosephsbarnoldswick.org.uk/community

Wyre Way footpath improvements - £7,000Poulton and Wyre Railway Societywww.pwrs.org

Previously the recipient of a Green Grant the society were inspired to submit an application for further works on the Poulton and Wyre Railway. The Railway Society operates a heritage line from Thornton to Fleetwood and potentially want to link to Poulton and the main line.

This grant enabled the upgrade and improvement of pathways and the creation of a safe disabled access level crossing over the railway joining up with the Wyre Way and part of the England Coastal path route. Previous grants have supported tidying up the main station along the line, hedge and bulb planting and the installation of bird boxes.

Chisnall Hall Community Woodland, Chorley - £30,000Friends of Chisnall Hall

Chisnall Hall Community woodland is a former colliery site on the outskirts of Coppull owned by Lancashire County Council and managed in partnership with the Friends of Chisnall Hall Community woodland. The woodland links with Syd Brook and Heskin Woods to form a 3km woodland corridor. The woodland is used weekly by the Wigan My Life group to offer their clients access to safe walking routes, nature, exercise and fresh air and some of its members have helped with the woodland management. Funding has improved access by upgrading 700m of footpath, widening and improving surfaces to enable disabled access. In addition woodland management and drainage improvements have been carried out by volunteers with some woodland planting to encourage native species.

300,000 Home composting

bins distributed to households in

Lancashire

Largest grant £1.1m -

Central Lancs Greenwaste

Trial

115 urban community

buildings supported

193 rural community

buildings supported

115 Play Areas improved

20 Multi Use Games Areas

23 pond creation projects

At least 500,000 trees

planted

£26m of landfill grants

approved in 20 years

£90m from other funding

sources

Celebrating 20 years - 1998 to 2018 - Funding Facts

260km of footpaths,

cycleways and bridleways improved

18 river catchment

enhancement projects

39 waste recycling, reuse and recovery projects

19 waste awareness education

programmes

1 locally rare butterfly species

reintroduced

38 terrestrial habitat

recovery projects

15 Environmental

placements

1,020 projects approved

80 funding rounds

Number of people

benefiting – we gave up

counting along time ago!

Celebrating 20 years - 1998 to 2018 - Funding Facts

Path around Pony Wood, Lancaster - £30,000Fairfield Associationwww.fairfieldassociation.org

The Fairfield Association’s charitable remit is to enhance and maintain public areas and greenspaces for the benefit of the local community. Based on the west side of the city this project will upgrade part of an existing path, plant trees and wildflowers and also create a new footpath around the woodland area of the Flora and Fauna Nature Reserve.

The new path will connect with local path networks via the canal to the estuary and beyond to Glasson Dock and provide a pleasant green walking route within easy access of the city.

Green Heat, Parbold Village Hall - £35,000Parbold Community Associationwww.parboldpicturehouse.org

Parbold Village Hall is a popular village resource in West Lancashire. The hall hosts the Douglas Music Society as well as a community cinema, National Theatre live and a wide range of community events and activities. The Fund supported the enhancement of facilities for the main hall some years ago.

Poor ventilation and heating has prompted the Community Association to install a solar powered air source heat pump ventilation system to serve the small meeting room, kitchen and toilets. The main hall has a similar system installed.

Accrington Women’s Centre - £20,000Lancashire Women’s Centreswww.womenscentre.org

Lancashire Women’s Centres develop community based drop in centres providing safe female only spaces from which women can access a range of free services to support them to live safe, healthy, happy and prosperous lives. The centre in Accrington is one of the busiest supporting around 600 women from the local area per year. Services include counselling and support, housing and legal advice, personal development training, access to resources and IT facilities, social inclusion support and mentoring.

Funding has enabled the creation of more counselling rooms and the development of a new community kitchen and more social meeting spaces for all the community.

Rediscovering the Tasting Garden, Lancaster - £ 10,760Friends of Storey Gardenswww.storeygardens.org

The Tasting Garden located near Lancaster City Centre is a unique garden art installation by artist Mark Dion, one of two public art pieces by the artist in the UK.

Previously the garden was fairly inaccessible to disabled and elderly visitors. Installation of a disabled ramp and pathway from the adjacent Storey building to the garden has allowed access for all to this interesting and developing community space.

The Countryside on your Doorstep, Preston Junction - £28,200Lancashire Wildlife Trustwww.lancswt.org.uk

The Wildlife Trust aim to create 5 walking routes (from 3k-5k) from Avenham Park into Preston Junction nature reserve and surrounding areas. The project will include sign posts along routes and route maps for information boards in key areas.

Volunteer groups are clearing scrub, and tackling invasive species which will greatly enhance the route and compliment the work being undertaken by the newly formed Friends of Preston Junction Nature Reserve.

Community Shop and Library, Trawden £30,000Trawden Forest CIOwww.trawdenforest.com

Trawden is a fairly isolated village in East Lancashire with no community shop or Post Office. Trawden Forest CIO previously, with the help of an LEF grant, developed and now run the community centre and a range of community activities.

Adjacent to the community centre is a small building which housed a library and children’s centre up until 2016. The CIO have converted the former library into a community shop, internet café and book and toy swop shop. The shop will sell store cupboard essentials as well as meat from a local farmer and their aim is to have the shop self-supporting within two years.

Funding for projects 2017-2018

Celebrating 20 years - funding for projects 1998-2018

Community Facility Improvements Rural, £3,734,976

General Environmental Improvements, £3,141,527

Habitat Creation and Management, £3,311,943 Parks, Gardens

and Open Spaces, £3,025,454

Play Areas and Recreational Facilities, £3,833,400

Waste Projects, £6,835,356

Community Facility Improvements Urban, £2,138,209

Habitat Creation and Management, £143,642

General Environmental Improvements, £268,500

Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces, £111,650

Play Areas and Recreational Facilities, £342,544

Green Grants, £14,556

Community Facility Improvements Rural, £177,875

Community Facility Improvements Urban, £291,226

2017 2016 £ £

INCOMING RESOURCESLandfill tax credits ..................................................................... 1,435,965 1,238,741 Interest received ........................................................................ 17,110 17,114 Total incoming resources ........................................................... 1,453,075 1,255,855

RESOURCES EXPENDEDGrants (paid and payable) ......................................................... 1,380,274 1,055,487 Grants cancelled ........................................................................ 46,045 (96,798)Entrust levy ................................................................................ 39,163 35,517 Management and Administration ............................................. 78,933 86,124 Total resources expended .......................................................... 1,452,325 1,080,330 Net incoming / (outgoing ) resources ...................................... 750 175,525

Surplus at 31 December 2017 1,682,558 1,681,808

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2017Current AssetsDebtors ..................................................................................... 10,758 8,525 Short Term investments ............................................................ - -Cash on deposit at bank ............................................................ 3,263,150 2,867,409

3,273,908 2,875,934 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year ........................ 1,591,350 (1,194,126) Net assets (including £150,000 reserve) ................................... 1,682,558 1,681,808

The above summary of financial activities and balance sheet has been extracted from the audited financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 December 2017.

Further informationA copy of the full audited accounts can be obtained from : The Company Secretary, Lancashire Environmental Fund Ltd., PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ

Financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2017